NIV Bible Study Commentary

John H. Sailhamer

• Publisher: Zondervan
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9780310416692
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Reference

Helpful insights into the rich background and meaning of the Bible, in a convenient, one-volume commentary.

When reading Scripture, it's sometimes easy to get lost in the details, bogged down by all the different stories, lineages, rulers, peoples, numbers, and confusing phrases—specifics that only make sense in context, when we understand the Bible as a whole...

A clear and concise companion to the whole Bible, the NIV Bible Study Commentary will provide you with quick, insightful help in understanding the Bible while you're reading it. It's meant to be kept close at hand for reference while you study God's Word, and it will enrich your study.

The NIV Bible Study Commentary is perfect for:

• Anyone looking to grasp a fuller understanding of the Bible and the major themes interwoven throughout its pages.
• Bible college students, Sunday School teachers, pastors, and ministers wanting a handy reference resource.
• Those looking for a great gift to celebrate a graduation, birthday, or other milestone event.

Arranged according to all sixty-six books of the Bible for ease-of-use, this one-volume commentary provides insights into the history, events, people, and places found in the stories of Scripture.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John H. Sailhamer is professor of Old Testament at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Brea, California, and was formerly senior professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. His other works include An Introduction to Old Testament Theology and The NIV Compact Bible Commentary.

1 SAMUEL

Introduction

The title of this book is derived from the principal character of the book, Samuel the prophet. He was the founder of the Israelite monarchy. Since the events of the two volumes run from the final days of the judges to the final days of the life of David — over one hundred years — its author likely did not witness all of the events in the book.

I. The Period of Samuel’s Judgeship (1Sa 1:1 – 7:17)

A. The Rise of Samuel and the Fall of Israel to the Philistines (1:1 – 4:22)

1. The story of Hannah (1:1 – 2:11a)

The main characters in the story are introduced in 1:1 – 3. Elkanah, Samuel’s father, was from the hill country of Ephraim and had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Hannah was barren because the Lord had closed her womb (v.5), and Peninnah had many children (v.2b).

The climax of the story comes with Eli’s announcement that Hannah’s prayer had been heard (1:17). She returned to her husband “and her face was no longer downcast” (v.18). Hannah’s song (2:1 – 10) is important for the interpretation of the story because, like most songs in the Bible, the author uses it to draw out thematic hot points of the story. Hannah’s answered prayer was a sign that the Lord is a righteous judge. He brought down the proud (Peninnah) and exalted the humble (Hannah). The idea of the Lord’s judging the proud and exalting the humble is linked to the concepts of the barrenness and the blessing of children that are central here.

2. The exile of the ark (2:11b – 4:22)

In the first segment of this story (2:11b – 4:1a) the author demonstrates that the priests, Eli’s sons Hophni and Phinehas, were totally bereft of the ideals of God’s law. He gives two reports of their misdeeds — the first demonstrating their greed (2:12 – 17) and the second their promiscuity (vv.22 – 25). Then follow two reports of God’s judgment on the house of Eli: the speech by the “man of God” (vv.27 – 36) and God’s word to Samuel (3:1 – 18).

In the final segment of the story (4:1b – 22), the narrative records the exile of the ark of the covenant. The Israelites met the Philistines in battle and were summarily defeated (4:1b – 2). In their second encounter, the ark was captured. Though the narrative provides no explanation for these defeats, the larger context suggests that it was because of the failure of their leadership, the ungodly priests.

B. The Return of the Ark and the Revival of the People (5:1 – 7:17)

1. The ark in exile and its return (5:1 – 7:1)

After their capture of the ark, the Philistines brought it to Ashdod to put it in the temple of their god, Dagon (5:1 – 2). Presumably it was placed there as a trophy.

When the ark was returned, the Israelites treated it carelessly, and many died because of that (6:19). The ark was then given proper treatment according to the law of Moses, and a priesthood was appointed to care for it (6:20 – 7:1).

To appreciate the meaning of this story we must remember that according to the Pentateuch, the ark represented God’s promise to dwell among his chosen people (Ex 25:22). The Israelites had misused this privilege by presuming upon it, and the Philistines’ attempt to turn their possession of the ark into a blessing for their land also failed. The Lord’s presence with the ark could not be manipulated; it was a matter of grace.

2. The lesson of obedience (7:2 – 17)

After the ark had been returned and the Israelites had mourned their losses, Samuel gathered the people to call them to obedience (vv.2 – 3). The people responded by obeying the words of Samuel and putting away their foreign gods to follow the Lord alone (v.4).

II. The Beginning of the Israelite Monarchy (8:1 – 15:35)

A. The Request for a King (8:1 – 22)

At the close of Samuel’s life, a crisis developed over the kind of leaders Israel should have. The people, recognizing that Samuel’s old age was hindering his ability to judge Israel, requested that he appoint a king over them to rule like the other nations around them (vv.4 – 5). Rather than wait for God to deliver by raising up a judge like Samuel, the people wanted to appoint a permanent leader, a king.

Samuel, however, was angered by this request and turned to the Lord for help. The Lord responded by explaining their request and instructing Samuel to acquiesce to their plan, even though the motives of the people were not right (v.7). Samuel then carried out their proposal and established the kingship in Israel with the house of Saul, though not without a solemn warning to remain faithful to the covenant and to remember that the Lord alone was the true king in Israel. The earthly monarch was merely the obedient servant of the Lord (vv.11 – 22; 12:14 – 15).

B. The Selection of Saul (9:1 – 10:16)

After a brief introduction to the family of Saul (9:1 – 2), the story begins with Saul’s trek after his father’s lost donkeys. Being unable to find them (vv.3 – 4), Saul sought the help of Samuel (vv.5 – 12). The next morning, Samuel privately anointed Saul as king in Israel (9:25 – 10:1). As a confirmation of his calling, Samuel gave Saul three signs that would be fulfilled (10:2 – 13), which followed the requirements for the confirmation of a prophet’s words (see Dt 18).

C. The Public Appointment of Saul (10:17 – 27)

A fascinating view of Saul is presented here. Virtually all of it is positive, showing Saul’s humility (v.22) and his great strength and acclaim: “There is no one like him among all the people” (v.24). Even the army he formed contained “valiant men whose hearts God had touched” (v.26). Thus the people’s request for a king to lead them in war was fulfilled.

D. The Divine Confirmation of Saul (11:1 – 15)

To set the stage for the account of Saul’s failure, the writer provides one more narrative to show the people’s and God’s initial approval of him. Saul is presented as Israel’s deliverer, remarkably similar to the judges. Saul rallied the tribes, and just as during the time of the judges, the Spirit of God came on him and he defeated the Ammonites in battle. Saul’s mighty deeds were known and acknowledged by the people.

E. Samuel’s Speech (12:1 – 25)

Samuel called the people together at Gilgal to celebrate Saul’s victory over the Ammonites and to reconfirm him as king (11:14). In Samuel’s speech, he began by declaring his own innocence in both the matter of the kingship and the matter of his role as judge over Israel. He then recounted God’s “righteous acts” (12:7) for Israel, as recorded in the Pentateuch, beginning with God’s sending Moses and Aaron to bring the people out of Egypt and into the land (v.8). He then turned to the time of the judges, listing himself as the last judge (vv.9 – 11). Finally, he warned the nation that their present request for a king was a serious matter and that it greatly displeased the Lord.

In spite of the Lord’s displeasure, however, there was still much hope for Israel. If they obeyed the Lord, he would bless them. If they rebelled, both they and their king would go into exile. The lesson of Samuel’s speech is that of Moses in the book of Deuteronomy (e.g., Dt 4) and the prophet Ezekiel (e.g., Eze 36:22 – 32).

F. Saul’s Failure as King of the Lord’s People (13:1 – 15:35)

The clearest example of the role that the king was to play in Israel comes from the account of Saul’s failure. Saul failed as king because he did not provide spiritual leadership for the nation. He overstepped his bounds within God’s established pattern for the king — he did not heed the words of God spoken by the prophet (13:9 – 14). Saul, as it turned out, was the kind of king Israel had wanted, for he could maintain a standing army, but he was not the kind of king the Lord wanted — he did not obey God’s will. Thus Saul was rejected as king and ultimately fell in defeat in battle (31:4).

1. Saul’s first offense (13:1 – 15a)

This is the first of two accounts of Saul’s failure to show godly leadership (see also 15:1 – 23). Samuel had instructed Saul to wait for him at Gilgal, and he would come in seven days to offer a sacrifice before the battle (v.8). Saul, however, feeling the threat and pressure of the Philistine forces gathered for battle, did not obey Samuel’s words, and he offered the sacrifice before Samuel arrived (vv.8 – 9). As soon as he offered the sacrifice, Samuel arrived (v.10). Saul had preempted the authority of the Lord and had disobeyed the word of the Lord’s prophet (cf. Dt 18:18). Thus, according to Dt 17:20, he could no longer be king.

2. Saul’s campaign against the Philistines (13:15b – 14:52)

This narrative is positioned between the two accounts of Saul’s rejection as king. Surprisingly, much of what Saul did here is positive and in line with the lessons of the Deuteronomy. Saul is, in fact, portrayed as a victorious king. Thus, this story seems intended to show that from a general point of view, Saul was a desirable king and a worthy leader.

3. Saul’s second failure as king of the Lord’s people (15:1 – 35)

Samuel the prophet called on Saul to engage the Amalekites in a holy war, i.e., a war to carry out divine judgment on the Lord’s enemies (vv.1 – 3). Samuel’s instruction was total destruction: no Amalekite was to survive (15:3). Note that Samuel’s words to Saul were the words of the Lord, who was commanding him to go out against the Amalekites (vv.2 – 3).

Saul obediently went out against the Amalekites. God gave him victory, but Saul did not fully carry out the word of the Lord. He “spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs — everything that was good” (v.9). Saul had turned a solemn commission of the Lord into an occasion for his own prosperity.

Saul confessed his sin of disobedience but to no avail (vv.24 – 26). Samuel told him, “You have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel!” (v.26).

III. The Decline of Saul and the Rise of David (16:1 – 31:13)

A. David, the Man after God’s Own Heart: The Early Years (16:1 – 30:31)

With God’s rejection of Saul as king, the process of the divine selection of a new king began. We are told far in advance that the new king will be one “after [God’s] own heart” (13:14) — i.e., one who desired to walk in the way of the Lord. When David was selected, it was apparently this very feature that gained him God’s final approval. Even Samuel was willing to accept a leader on the basis of external judgment, but not God. The Lord looks into the human heart and selects his representatives on that basis (16:6 – 7).

1. The selection of David (16:1 – 23)

The Lord instructed Samuel to go to the house of Jesse, David’s father, to anoint the one whom he had chosen to replace Saul as king (vv.1 – 3). Again we see the importance of Samuel, the prophet, as the one through whom the kingship was established. God’s authority came through the prophet.

Jesse had eight sons, seven of whom he brought to Samuel for the selection. David remained with his father’s sheep, not even considered as a possible choice. It was, of course, this David whom the Lord had chosen all along. Thus the narrative highlights its central theme — the Lord does not look on the outside, as a human being does, but at the heart (vv.4 – 13).

David was immediately anointed king and received special endowment by the Spirit of God to carry out his role as king (v.13). At the same time, the Spirit left Saul (v.14) — he was thus no longer God’s special representative, though he remained the “anointed” king. One of the most striking pictures of David in this book is his reluctance to force his way into his rightful position as king. He was the anointed king from 1Sa 16 on, but not until 2Sa 5 he was recognized as king over all Israel. David patiently waited for God’s timing and tried as best he could to live peaceful...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Abbreviations
• Preface
• Introduction
• Genesis
• Exodus
• Leviticus
• Numbers
• Deuteronomy
• Joshua
• Judges
• Ruth
• 1 Samuel
• 2 Samuel
• 1 Kings
• 2 Kings
• 1 Chronicles
• 2 Chronicles
• Ezra
• Nehemiah
• Esther
• Job
• Psalms
• Proverbs
• Ecclesiastes
• Song of Song
• Isaiah
• Jeremiah
• Lementations
• Ezekiel
• Daniel
• Hosea
• Joel
• Amos
• Obadiah
• Jonah
• Micah
• Nahum
• Habakkuk
• Zephaniah
• Haggai
• Zechariah
• Malachi
• Matthew
• Mark
• Luke
• John
• Acts
• Romans
• 1 Corinthians
• 2 Corinthians
• Galatians
• Ephesians
• Philippians
• Colossians
• 1 Thessalonians
• 2 Thessalonians
• 1 Timothy
• 2 Timothy
• Titus
• Philemon
• Hebrews
• James
• 1 Peter
• 2 Peter
• 1 John
• 2 John
• 3 John
• Jude
• Revelation
• About the Author
• About the Publisher